Winding machine



Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDING MACHINE Application June 19, 1937, Serial No. 149,114

9 claims.' (c1. 242-3) This invention relates to machines for winding the cores of golf balls and other wound articles. In one aspect it consists in improved winding mechanism whereby the article may be wound at high speed and in basket weave fashion.

Certain manufacturers of golf balls prefer cores in which the elastic thread is laid, at least in the surface windings of the core, in basket weave fashion, that is to say, with substantial space between adjacent turns of the thread. A core wound in this style of winding presents a roughened and more open texture than a core wound in great circle fashion. The plastic material of the shell therefore enters into the interstices of the core and a particularly firm bond is formed between the core and the molded shell. In winding machines as heretofore constructed for basket weave winding it has been impractical to rotate the core at high speed, whereas in winding in great circle fashion very much higher speeds are practicable. For example, prior to the present invention, 900 R. P. M- has been considered a safe speed for basket weave winding, whereas great circle winding maybe effected at ove1"3,000 R. P. M. without diiliculty. Under these conditions many manufacturers have divided the winding operation into two distinct steps, some going so far as'to take the partially wound core from a great circle winding machine and present it to a second winding machine for completing or topping the core with thread laid in basket weave fashion. V'lhis procedure, of course, adds greatly to the expense of manufacture and necessitates the eXtra operations of fastening oi the end of the great circle wound thread, and fastening in the end of the basket weave wound thread.

'Ihe machine of the present invention rests upon my discovery that by supporting and rotating the core to be wound in a novel manner, it may be wound in basket weave fashion at a higher speed than has been considered heretofore practicable, for example, at a rate of 3,000 R. P. M. The mechanism of my invention comprises a pair of spaced rolls for supporting and rotating the core, one of said rolls being of subn stantially greater diameter than the other and having associated means for causing its own longitudinal movement. That is to say, 'the core is supported by two rolls, one substantially larger than the other and the larger oi these rolls is given a continuous longitudinal reciprocation in addition to its rotary movement. The core is thus oscillated back and forth transversely of the Winding plane by the action of the reciprocatory roll with a result that the thread is laid at high speed and uniformly in basket weave fashion.

In the machine herein shown for purposes of illustration, an endless elastic band is interposed between the supporting and rotating rolls and the core, and this band may be advantageously utilized to drive the reciprocatory roll. I have, moreover, shown the latter as a self-contained unit, deriving its reciprocating movement from 10 an internal cam structure. While these latter features contribute to provide the best mecha? nism now known to me, it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily restricted to these said features, but may be advantageously 15 embodied in winding machines of other types, for example, those in which the reciprocatory roll is driven and reciprocated by mechanism entirely external to itself.

These and other features of the invention will 2O be best understood and appreciated from the iollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. l is a view in perspective of portions of a 25 Winding machine,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the reciprocatory roll,

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in perspective of elements of the roll .shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a vdiagrammatic View showing the relative positions of the core and rolls.

The present invention is illustrated as einbodied in a Winding machine of the general type of that shown in my copending application, 35 Serial No. 3,773 led January 28, 1935, to which reference may be had for details of construction not herein described. As in the maclnne of that application, the main frame includes a vertical panel i i) which faces the operator and upon the face of which are mounted the core-supporting and rotating rolls. Of these, the roll l2 is keyed to the forward end of a driven shaft ll which has one bearing in the panel lil and which is connected at its rear end to operating mechanism not herein shown. The cooperating roll 'comprises a cylindrical shell i3 mounted to rotate upon an axis parallel to that of the roll l2, spaced therefrom and disposed at substantially the same level. An endless elastic band or apron I4 runs upon the rolls l2 and I3 being driven by the roll I2 and serving to drive the roll i3. A core 2l to be wound is represented in winding positionl upon the endless band lli and this acts to cradle the core and supply directly the traction which rotates it. The core is held in position upon the band by a convex roll I5 mounted to rotate freely upon a transverse stud I6 projecting from the end of a substantially horizontal arm Il. The arm I'I is mounted to swing about a horizontal axis (not shown) so that the roll I5 may move upwardly as the diameter of the core increases in the winding operation. The roll I5 is revolved by its engagement with the rotating core. Elastic thread I3 is supplied to the core from a reel (not shown) and is directed to the core by a grooved guide roll I9 carried by an arm 26.

The roll I3 is supported by a stationary shaft 23 rigidly secured in the panel I and for this purpose having a shoulder and a reduced intermediate portion which fits within a boss 24 projecting from both faces of the panel. The rear end of the shaft 23 is reduced and threaded to receive a nut 25 by which the shaft is drawn securely into the boss and its shoulder held rigidly against the outer face of the boss. The shaft 23 therefore presents an outwardly projecting cylindrical journal portion of substantial diameter. This journal portion of the shaft is provided with two stationary collars. The inner collar 26 is pinned to the shaft 23 adjacent to the outer face of the boss 24, and is provided with an axial bore on one side in which is inserted a hardened bearing stud 2'I having a rounded head which projects inwardly beyond the inner end of the collar. An outer collar 28 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 23 by a set screw and this is also axially drilled to receive a threaded stud 29 having also a rounded inwardly directed end. A check nut 30 is provided for securely locking the stud 29 in adjusted position. It will be noted that the outer end of the shaft 23 is recessed to clear the check nut 3E) and afford convenient access to the stud 29 for purpose of adjustment.

The roll I3 already referred to as a cylindrical shell has sufficient internal diameter to clear the collars 26 and 28 in its rotation. Pressed into the shell or roll I3 is a hardened sleeve 3I with its ends bevelled or inclined in parallel planes oblique to the axis of the shaft 23. Pressed into the sleeve 3l is a pair of tubular brass bushings 32 which are spaced at their inner ends and bevelled at their outer ends flush with the ends of the sleeve 3l. These bearings 32, the sleeve 3|, and the shell or roll I3 are thus united to form an integral rotor arranged to spin freely upon the stationary journal portion of the shaft 23. In the mechanism herein shown, though not necessarily, this rotor is driven by the endless elastic band I4 from the driven roll I2. Interposed between the inner ends of the studs 21 and 29 and the oblique end faces of the sleeve 3l are hardened segments 33 and 34. The segment 34 is shown in Fig. 4, being provided with a rounded socket 35 in one face to receive the rounded end of the stud 29. These segments are free to rock upon their respective studs and to accommodate themselves to any position of the inclination of the end faces of the sleeve 3| as the latter is rotated. As will be obvious, the eifect of the rotation of this sleeve with its inclined end faces between the segments 33 and 34, which may rock, but which are held against axial movement, is to cause reciprocation of the rotor assembly including the roll I3. In Fig. 2 the roll is shown at the inner limit of its path of movement. When the roll is turned it will have been shifted outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 and in one complete rotation it will be returned to the position shown, that is, the roll is caused positively to make one complete reciprocation in each rotation thereof.

The journal portion of the shaft 23 is provided with a longitudinal bore 36 which extends from the outer end of the shaft to a point Well within the sleeve 3i where it is intersected by a transverse hole. The outer end of the shaft is plugged and provided with a transverse hole 3'I by which oil may be supplied to the bore 36 and thus reach the space between the inner ends of the bushing 32 and so lubricate the rotor upon its journal.

As herein shown the roll I2 is concave or inwardly tapering from both ends. elastic band I4 conforms to this contour of the roll I2 as indicated in Fig. l. The roll I3 is spaced from the roll I2 and is of substantially greater diameter so that it engages the core through the medium of the band I4 at a point slightly above that at which the roll I2 engages the core. rIhis relation of roll diameters is desirable and important in contributing to the desired result although it may be varied under certain circumstances.

The operation of the machine will be apparent from the foregoing description. The operator presents the core center to the machine having rst made a few turns of thread I8 thereon. The core is placed beneath the roll I5, cradled in the band I4 between the rolls I2 and I3, being located in winding position by these elements. The shaft I I is now set in motion and the roll I2 driven in counterclockwise direction. The endless band Iliis driven by the roll I2 and the roll i3 is driven at the same linear speed by the band Iii. During each revolution of the roll I3, a complete axial reciprocation takes place, and in this movement the band I4 is oscillated transversely to its direction of travel. A combined rotary and oscillating movement is therefore imparted to the core 2I with the result that the elastic thread I3 is laid at a high rate of speed in basket Weave fashion.

In the rotation of the roll I3 and the elements assembled therewith the inclined end faces of the sleeve 3| react against the segments 33 and 34 to cause the roll to make its longitudinal reciprocation. The spacing of the segments may be adjusted exactly to t the length of the sleeve by turning the threaded stud 29 to advance the segment 34 against the right-hand end of the sleeve as seen in Fig. 2 and when once adjusted the stud is maintained in position by the check nut 30.

In Fig. 5 is diagrammatically shown the relation of the core 2l of the supporting and rotating rolls I2 and I3 and the hold down or detector roll I5. It will be noted that the point of contact between the roll l2 and the core is at a substantially lower level than the point of contact between the roll I3 and the core. In a preferred construction the diameter of the rotary roll I2 may be 1 inch and the diameter of the rotary and reciprocatory roll may be 1.40 to 1.50 inches and in a machine so organized it is entirely practical to effect the basket weaving operation at a speed of substantially 3600 R. P. M. In Fig. 5 the core 2l is shown in an early stage of the winding operation and as being of relatively small diameter.

It will be understood however, that as the diameter of the core increases, the relationship of the points of support or tangency will remain at unequal levels although shifting in actual position.

The endless l It is believed that the process carried out by the machine herein shown is novel and has never before been practiced in the art of Winding golf balls or the like. This consists in leading elastic thread to a core in a predetermined path, engaging the core in rotary contact at a point in a location at one side, and engaging the core in combined rotary and transverse movement at a higher level at a point or location upon its other side.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described an illustrative embodimentl thereof, I claim as new and desire t'o secure by Letters Patent:

1. A machine for Winding golf balls or the like, comprising a pair of spaced rolls for supporting and rotating a core to be Wound, said rolls being located partially beneath the core and one of said rolls being of substantially greater diameter than the .other and having associated means for causing longitudinal movement in itself.

2. A machine for Winding golf balls or the like, comprising a pair of spaced rolls, an endless band carried thereby for supporting and rotating a core to be Wound, one of said rolls being of substantially greater diameter than the other and having associated means for causing longitudinal movement in itself Within the band.

3. A machine for winding golf balls or the like, comprising a concave core-supporting roll, a cylindrical roll of greater diameter located adjacent thereto, an endless elastic band running upon said rolls and adapted partially to embrace a core to be Wound, and means for reciprocating said cylindrical roll within the band.

4. A machine for Winding golf balls or the like, comprising a concave driven roll, a larger cylindrical roll spaced therefrom, an endless band driven by said driven roll and driving said larger roll and serving to cradle a core to be Wound, and means enclosed Within said larger roll for causing it to reciprocate endwise simultaneously with its rotation within the band.

5. A machine for Winding golf balls or the like, comprising a frame having a vertical panel, a stationary shaft projecting therefrom and having bearing pieces held against bodily axial movement, a roll having a portion with inclined surfaces interposed between said bearing pieces, and means for locating a core to be Wound Where it will be partly supported by said roll.

6. A machine for Winding golf balls or the like, comprising a pair of core-supporting rolls, one of which has an internal sleeve with oblique end surfaces, a shaft for said roll, spaced collars on the shaft, and segments pivotally mounted upon said collars to engage said oblique surfaces as the roll revolves.

'7. A machine for winding golf balls or the like, comprising a pair of spaced core-supporting rolls, one .of which has a tubular part With its end faces inclined to the axis of the roll in parallel planes, a shaft having spaced collars, a segment mounted to rock on each collar, and means for adjusting the spacing of the segments to maintain them in engagement with said inclined end faces.

8. A machine for winding golf balls or the like, comprising core-supporting and rotating rolls mounted side by side in spaced relation and at the same level, one being of greater diameter than the other, means for reciprocating that roll Which is of greater diameter, and means for leading an elastic thread to the core from the side on which the smaller roll is located.

9. In a machine for Winding golf balls or the like, a stationary shaft having fixed spaced collars thereon, each supporting an angularly movable shoe, a roll journaled on the shaft having an oblique sleeve therein which is engaged by said shoes, and means longitudinally adjusting one of said shoes With relation to its associated collar.

CHARLES R. SIBLEY. 

